Utah Jazz: Draft prospect knows tough

Comments

funny, Grant Napier the Sacramento announcer told me that also. Whether anyone
thinks so or no, I listed and respect all takes if good reasons given. Today
Sloan has more admirers than ever. My mind will not change, he had a free day
today maybe Fathers day yesterday people in good mood who knows?

Then again I do not need to check my facts. See I have followed the Jazz
since 1978-1979. Mr. Atlanta you are not a great source. See the Hawks until
recently have stunk and stunk forever....A couple Fratello, Wilkins years and
the last 2. 1/2 empty Omnis. Hawks gee what an history in atlanta. Cannot
live forever with Hudson, Pistol and Bellamy...Sloan the best? I will not
comment...Not his fault. Course not...When he leaves I will celebrate....Then
again Phil comes in no.....The Jazz actually missed 3 years in a row. Small
Market? Hee hee hee hee. San ANtonio is "huge">>> Drafting, good trades and
talent evaluation all has to do with big market I guess.

Sorry.
Gong..

Next....

JazzFanInAtlanta

June 22, 2009 10:18 p.m.

I have been a Jazz fan since they moved from New Orleans and suffered thru many
bad years. Todd should check his facts - the Jazz won 2 Western Division
championships in the late 90s only to lose twice to superhuman Michael Jordan.
When Stockton and Malone retired the jazz were out of the playoffs - what- 1 or
2 years? Look how long Chicago was a cellar dweller after Jordan left.
Jerry Sloan is the best. But Utah is a small market team and struggles to get $
players to come. Not the coach's fault. Judge him by who he has to work with.
look at the rest of the league struggling to find a coach that wins. And Utah
has the best and you want to dump him? Crazy. You will realize how good you had
it when he leaves.

todd from santa ana

June 22, 2009 5:24 p.m.

How am I all over the map? every human has good and bad points. Sloan has won
nothing in over 20 years. the last 2 years, we have been eliminated one round
earlier in the playoffs each year. I will not rehash the reasons. I have been
consistent, a tough coach but yet passionate, flexible game strategies, good
communicator-lets be honest. You supporters or "holics" would not "accept
anyone" truly to replace Sloan unless it is a Jazz person or Phil Johnson.

Very closed minded. I am so glad you guys are in the minority....

Sloan has his strengths

June 22, 2009 4:37 p.m.

and his liabilities.

I would suggest Stockton as a possible
replacement. If ever there was a player who understood the game and Sloan's
system it was Stockton.

Stockton would be perhaps the greatest game
coach of all time. However, he is "unproven" and he may or may not be able to
handle the younger players or thier personalities.

I think Stockton
would be acceptable to most Sloan supporters and he would quickly put his own
stamp on the system and the team. He would not be a rubber stamp of Sloan.

Stockton is a winner and I think he would be very clear with management
about what he needed to win. He also would trade any player who did not perform
or put the team and winning first. I think the defense and back to back problems
would disappear quite quickly.

He certainly has enough game
experience and knowledge to coach an NBA team.

Additional Facts

June 22, 2009 3:51 p.m.

Over Sloan's tenure only 2 teams have averaged more wins per season, see listing
below. While he has yet to win a title, his teams are competitive year in and
year out. For example, during his Jazz coaching career he has had only one
losing season (the fewest of all NBA teams during that stretch). Based on those
few facts, I'll take Sloan any day of the week.

Sloan may not be the best coach in the NBA, but it is hard to argue that he is
not one of the best coaches of his generation. Since, he took over as head
coach 22 years ago only 3 teams have won more division titles(Pistons, Lakers,
and Spurs) and only 4 teams have won more conference titles (Pistons, Bulls,
Lakers, Spurs). Additionally, those four teams (Pistons, Bulls, Lakers, Spurs)
have taken 18 of the 22 titles with Jackson, Popevich, Riley, Daly coaching 18
of the 22 titles as well. While, Sloan may not be at their level, I would rank
him right behind those four over the last 22 years. And if the Jazz can have
the 5th best coach every 22 year span, I will not have any complaints. Sloan
keep up the good work.

KJ

June 22, 2009 2:19 p.m.

@ Todd

Sorry, bud, it is arrogance because you're insinuating you
know more about b-ball than Jerry Sloan and the entire Jazz organization and
"you know zero about basketball" if you truly believe your insinuations to be
facts. Rick Mahorn? Bill Laimbeer? You mean the same Laimbeer who's been winning
championships in the freaking WNBA? You mean the same Laimbeer that can't get an
NBA team to even sniff his coaching "abilities"? Apparently you know something
about him 30 teams in the NBA haven't discovered. Mahorn is an interesting
option, but he's another guy who's unproven. How do you know his "tough man" gig
will translate to coaching. And speaking of "tough man" gigs, isn't that exactly
what Sloan is? Yet you want another one? You're all over the map, and that's
what I'm talking about when I say your alternatives are just as fruitless/silly
as your mockery of Sloan supporters.

todd to jazz cop

June 22, 2009 12:28 p.m.

It is your comments why he is still there today and others like you, the
minority happy season ticket holder, those few lurches that hold back the
progress of this entire organization.

You know zero about basketball
if you clearly feel, some of the suggestions being brought forth would not make
the Jazz a better team. I watch many games many teams, it is not being arrogant
and know it all. It is fact. I am convinced Bill Laimbeer and Rick mahorn as
Assistant could walk right in and overnight improve this team.

Convinced and as "guaranteed" as Sloan being Sloan and his Sloanaholics are
there for him.

I am glad i do not play under you, You then
agree with his comedy philosophies of just boxing out 1/2 the court and
"praying" the open 3 does not go in.

The Jazz are over the salary cap and hence cannot simply "bid on Lee". The only
way they can sign a $8 million player is by doing a sign & trade. Or an outright
trade, I suppose.

No Lee

June 22, 2009 12:14 a.m.

David Lee is known for his absence of defense as well. That would be like
swapping boozer for another boozer; doesnt help us out any. Plus if you look at
the salaries, we are probably gonna have to let booz walk, and we'll have barely
enough money to give some more to millsap, some more to memo, and maybe sign a
mid-level free agent. We aren't getting anything fancy for boozer, we cant
afford it. I'd say find a decent point guard free agent with the leftover money
(Farmar?) or use the leftover money to possibly move up in the draft.

Jazz Cop

June 22, 2009 12:05 a.m.

The comment that coaches like popo and jackson don't grow on tress is on target.
Jackson is good with big egos, and keeping everyone happy, and popo is the best
game manager. Sloan is good in other areas. It's not sloans fault that memo and
boozer don't play defense, sloan could not play those two, but is that
realistic? Let those guys go, trade them, it's the only solution. I'm happy
with sloan as a coach. All these antislaon guys are the same people who said
the jazz wouldn't make the playoffs last year, and the first ones to shove it
down everyone's throats when the jazz fell apart, some people take pleasure in
negative results because they're more predictable, but this is predictable too,
the jazz are not a better team with out sloan, if that isn't clear, it will be
clear if sloan is pushed out the door. Just the thought of that ingratitude
sends shivers up the spine.

David Lee is available

June 21, 2009 10:55 p.m.

for 7 to 10 Mill. Let Boozer walk and bid on Lee. NY is saving cap space for
2010 and will not match more than 7 mill for Lee.

It really does not
matter if Boozer just walks away if the Jazz could get Millsap for 6.5 and Lee
for 8. That would be cheaper than keeping Boozer only and the Jazz could be in
better shape.

The rumor is that POR is trying to work a sign and
trade but that gives NY a lot of salary they don't want.

It will be
really hard for the Jazz to sign and trade Boozer this year for the money he
wants.

Jason

June 21, 2009 10:46 p.m.

Getting back to the point of this column...I would like the toughness that a
player like Sam Young could bring to the Jazz. He's supposed to be a pretty
decent defender as well...which is just what we need. Perhaps he could be the
next Harpring...since Matt is clearly near the end of his career.

RE: Florida boy

June 21, 2009 10:37 p.m.

I stand corrected on Memo.

As far as getting Gasol, I agree that was
great and timely after Bynum went down. Gasol is thanking his lucky stars. (I
will say after seeing him play in the Boston finals I wasn't as impressed. He
has definitely become a better player in LA this year.)

Florida boy

June 21, 2009 8:58 p.m.

@from a Laker fan:

"...Free agents Odom & Ariza have both said they
want to stay and supposedly will take less money. (when have you ever heard that
from a Jazz player?!!)..."

Um, I think it was a couple weeks ago,
when Memo said he'd take less to stay in SLC.

Can't say the Lakers
didn't earn their Championship, but if any team could get a top 5 big like Gasol
for an expiring contract stiff like Kwame Brown, they'd be playing in the finals
every year too.

WOW

June 21, 2009 7:09 p.m.

I love how everyone is so eager to jump on the "sloan is the cancer of the team"
bandwagon! Why should he have to motivate professional athletes to go out and do
their job. Do any of you have to have your boss motivate you day in and day out
to perform at the best of your abilities? I hope not! The real cancers on this
team are Boozer (duh) and A.K. Two guys who expect that their role should be
bigger than it really should be. Boozer really should've been the backup to
milsap, because isn't that what you want off the bench is instant offense? And
seems how thats all he's good for that probably would've benefited the team the
best. But booz is not in it for the team as he mentioned towards the end of the
season that he's all about starting thats what he's here for. As for Ak, he is
not an offensive option that he believes he is, he needs to buck up and play D
1st and O 2nd. not worrying about getting touches. Play D and your O will come.

Replacement Coach

June 21, 2009 4:57 p.m.

Get Stockman to coach! He understands the strengths and limitations of the Sloan
system better than Sloan. Further, he is results oriented and is a winner. I am
sure he would know what to modify and what to keep. He also would not put up
with any garbage from prima donna players.

Stockman may not be
interested but Malone might.

Actually McHale was a lousy GM but a
pretty good coach and the modern players like and play for him.

McHale did okay with a very limited line up this year. As I recall he beat the
Jazz in Utah. That means he out coached Sloan. The bigs would blossom.

LA had

June 21, 2009 4:43 p.m.

1. a very strong inside game.2. a strong outside game.3. a strong
defense.

The Jazz have

1. are dependent on their inside
game mainly at PF but also SG and SF.2. have a weak and erratic outside
game that Sloan discourages3. a weak and porous defense.

Those
differences are why LA is a champion and Utah is an 8th seed loser.

Problems

June 21, 2009 4:39 p.m.

Sloan has 2 options

1. He can modify what he is doing. Modify the
offense so it uses more outside shooting, more balance and less reliance on the
PF. And he can design a defense that will work.

The above requires
modification of the roster!

And most importantly, change his bone
headed ways of approaching the game.

Most teams spend endless hours
on video review breaking down each play and explaining to each player how to
improve their timing, positioning and footwork on each play. It is a system. If
one player is out of position or not doing what they are supposed to, the play
suffers. Most teams rely heavily on very sophisticated stats.

The
above requires modification of Sloan's approach.

OR

2. He
can keep the same roster and the same approaches and the same defense and get
the same results until he retires or gets fired.

That is why so many
people want Sloan replaced. He does not do the positive things that he can do to
get better results.

The entire Jazz organization is in the dark ages
when it comes to improving the functioning of the team.

They fly it
by their gut.

Jazz soft

June 21, 2009 4:32 p.m.

The Jazz are soft at both the 4 and the 5. If we want anything out of this
draft, we need to trade up.

There will be no coaching Boozer and Memo
to be tougher. Those habits are already ingrained. No coach will make that
difference.

People on this list are acting as if the Jazz is not a
successful franchise. Compared with whom?

from a Laker fan

June 21, 2009 3:28 p.m.

Jazz have the "nastiness" down.

Comments usually are ripping Kobe,
Phil, etc. all apart but now that they are holding the 2009 NBA championship
trophy you finally are turning your comments back to where they should have
been...on your own team and how you can get better.

Lakers big
challenge is keeping the championship team together. Free agents Odom & Ariza
have both said they want to stay and supposedly will take less money. (when
have you ever heard that from a Jazz player?!!)

Brewer is a SEVERE liabity on offense as shooting guard. No more players that
can't shoot. Our whole team has to score at the rim or they simply can't--its
awful and it does not work. Nobody on our team can spread the floor but memo
and in back to back years he has been injured come playoff time.

re idjazz12

June 21, 2009 3:02 p.m.

how is it obvious that sloan has lost his edge or cant coach these players?
What is that based on? In my opinion, the jazz have overachieved with this
bunch of players. Dont worry about it everybody, this roster as it is cannot
win a championship. They are two all star caliber players that can play defense
away from the possibility. They dont play D and teams that do play defense arent
vulnerable to boozer. Sloan keeps these guys as competitive as they can be and
its because of sloans never accept defeat attitude that you guys think another
coach could do better. Trust me, Phil jackson finds a million different ways to
point out to the media that he doesnt have the roster to win if was the coach
here....or anywhere for that matter when he didnt have a top 5 all time player.
In any case, the coaching change is irrelevant, this roster cant do it.

IDjazz12

June 21, 2009 2:44 p.m.

Todd that is where we differ. One thing I think you forgot is Hornacek did play
in Phoenix and in Philadelphia so I think he is capable of knowing when a team
needs to run and when to go to half court sets.

I think he would be a
lot like Del Negro and look what he did for his rookie and and the Bulls.That is what the Jazz need. They need a coach on there side. Sloan was lucky
with Stockton, Malone, and Hornacek because they just brought there lunch and
went to work and they really coached the other players. Now they are gone Sloan
is trying to coach for the first time and these guys do not respond to it and
obviously it does not work.

IDjazz12

June 21, 2009 2:32 p.m.

@KJ

I never named a replacement although I think Hornacek is a great
candidate because he has been in the system and knows how it runs. He has been
on the Jazz payroll so he can teach players who are in slumps out of
them(because Sloan cannot) and that has worked well. He understands hard work as
he was a walk on in college. His father was a coach so he understands many
things that some would not. I would rather take Hornacek now than to endure
another year of Sloan. I am not posting cause I hate the man. Its just obvious
that he has lost that edge that he needs to coach todays players and he is not
willing to change and that is frustrating because he preaches do what it takes
to the players to be the best they can be but he is not doing that himself.If Sloan is done after this year then why not change now instead of enduring
another mediocre season? Are we gonna wait until DWills contract is up before he
is gone and DWill is gone also looking for a team who wants a chmpionship.

todd to kj

June 21, 2009 2:11 p.m.

You know why KJ> Because the support for SLoan is so one sided and for reasons
so dumb, I cannot believe it. How many more examples does one have to see?
There is a risk in everything.,

I do not care if it is a 1/2 court,
tough mentally, strong defensive team and uptempo when called.

I want
to win. Period. And I do not mean to focus on winning 50 games and figuring OK
great season.

It is about the playoffs and trying yearly to be in
the top 4 in the West.

Sloan is adding nothing these days to make the
Jazz better, yes the voices, the atmosphere is stale and stagnant.

Change with the Jazz is needed-desparately, that is "outside thinking" that
means no Hornacek..

Anonymous

June 21, 2009 2:08 p.m.

As far as Sloan goes I think he is a very good coach. We just dont have players
that can play D. I wish Boozers dad made him walk every where sideways to teach
him some latteral movement. Every player just seems to run around him with
ease.

If we did replace sloan what about Avery Johnson as a coach.
I think he did pretty well stepping into the mavs as a 1st time coach. I was
actually surprised they let him go.

Miles

June 21, 2009 1:41 p.m.

All the negatives about Sloan are right on target. The problem is that Jerry
has had loads of talent over the years and that has made him look like he knows
what he is doing. He has had at his disposal some of the best PF and PG to play
the game. Yet he hasn't a ring to show for it.

KJ

June 21, 2009 1:15 p.m.

@ Todd and idjazz12

The problem with your guys' arguments is that
your alternatives are just as unrealistic as you guys claim Sloan winning a
championship is. Phil Jackson? Popovich? Are you kidding me? Those kind of guys
don't grow on trees and you guys act like if the Jazz lose Sloan one will just
pop up. Todd aren't you the one who wants an uptempo style/coach? Why don't you
ask Mike D'Antoni, Jim O'Brien, Flip Saunders how many rings they have.

I'm not saying Sloan is the ONLY coach for this franchise, in fact I think
change could actually be a good thing. However, to watch some of you guys act as
though anyone who supports Sloan is somehow inferior to your genius is just
silly, especially considering your alternatives are either unrealistic or
unproven themselves. You guys want to change for change's sake and Sloan
supporters aren't quite willing yet to take a risk. The truth is both arguments
are flawed, and for one to act as though their viewpoint is superior through
mockery or dismissal speaks to arrogance not genius or resolution.

todd from santa ana

June 21, 2009 12:58 p.m.

To Cowboy Joe, Miles, Id, Gdog, etc..

You may not agree.

However, I could make a prediction of one person who could instantly get more
and develop this Jazz Roster.

Unfortunately, Greg loves Jerry like
dad with Phil coming in next year---like Gomer would say "guaranteed"

He just quit
a job that won 3 titles. His replacement is former teammate. This person could
join him if he took over.

Under this watch, Miles will be "elated"
because then CJ becomes a player. SLackers see you. The Bigs develop.

Answer: Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn..

TOUGH

June 21, 2009 12:44 p.m.

But can he score?

todd to idjazz12

June 21, 2009 12:37 p.m.

Guys, like this, Houdini, among others will call you an outsider. See I do not
care to be "average" or use excuse "small market" or no one wants to go to
"utah, blah blah..

San Antonio is hardly the world largest city. Is
it?

They have an organization that knows how to judge talent. Even
in a disappointing year, look what Roger Mason signing did. Drew Gooden would
have sat the whole season. One discussion with Popovich. Then he gets into
shape and is now someone they probably will keep.

Again, this is
why they are who they are and who we are...Yeah they lost in the playoffs but we
know they were injury plagued to real key guys. Still look at the
accomplishments. The same people who are "sloanaholics" will tell you if
Popovich coached the Jazz we would do not better.

Lack of Sports
knowledge.

todd to anonymous

June 21, 2009 12:31 p.m.

"sloanaholic". joke... I knew we would see one today. It probably would not
matter if we drafted Larry Bird, he will not develop...

IDjazz12

June 21, 2009 12:18 p.m.

Anonymous and thankful:

You guys go ahead and stick with a coach who
does not watch film(admittedly), who stinks at game and time management, who
self professes he is not a motivator, plays Hart over Price and Knight over
Price. Koufos hit no wall he showed major leaps and bounds but when golf cart
crash dummy healed(Collins)and was slid into the lineup then Koufos is sent to
D-league. Fes came in and competed when he got the time and shut Yao down.
Reward was D-league.

Sloan had done many great things with the Jazz
and I do not dispute that. But the last couple of years it seems more to me that
he is going to impose his will whether right wrong or indifferent. Silly me I
thought it was about winning games and not about him. You guys stick with him
most average fans do.

Um...

June 21, 2009 11:55 a.m.

Dave would be correct if he watched the 08-09 Jazz team. Hart was traded away
last summer for Brevin Knight. Give ME a break, Dave!

akk

June 21, 2009 11:30 a.m.

Sloan was once a good coach.... this team has tuned him out... this generation
in general do not respond to him. Its time for him to move on.

Dug Cox

June 21, 2009 11:04 a.m.

Dave is Correct!

gdog3

June 21, 2009 10:58 a.m.

Sorry people but Dave makes good points.

Anonymous

June 21, 2009 10:36 a.m.

Dave is all talk, no action!

Dave

June 21, 2009 9:00 a.m.

Was he quoted as saying that the Jazz are a "tough" team??? Is everyone still
going off of the reputation of the Jazz in the 90's. Have we not been
complaining for the last 4 months that we are the exact opposite of a "tough"
team?

And I think this whole "Jerry SLoan loves guys who give it
their all and if they work very very hard then they will get a spot in the
lineup." That is so far from the truth... Harpring played very little minutes
this year, while softies Miles, Kirilenko, and Brewer, Okur, Korver, and Boozer
all played plenty of minutes when they were healthy. And is there any question
as far as backup point guard who played harder Hart or Price? Give me a break
Sloan, you don't reward anyone for hard work.... Sloan is all talk, no action...
The Jazz are all talk,no action

Thankful

June 21, 2009 8:53 a.m.

I am thankful that IDjazz12 is not the coach of the Jazz. He obviously judges
talent from what he reads in newspapers and on the internet.

For me,
I'll stick with a coach who actually is at the practices and sees the talent.

Anonymous

June 21, 2009 8:27 a.m.

Yeah, just like Milsap and Dwill spent so much time in the D-League. If you
deserve playing time and can play in the league Sloan lets you play. You all
are so worn out with your mis-guided Sloan hate. Even Kou got PT until he hit
the rookie wall and his play really suffered.

Alex in Kansas

June 21, 2009 8:08 a.m.

I thought we needed a big man in the 4 or 5 position? I realize Kirilenko and
Miles aren't producing, and that Harpring is near the end of his road. But,
until you unload one of them we are way overstuffed in this position. What's
going on here?

IDjazz12

June 21, 2009 7:55 a.m.

Ford said that he could step right in and start.Guess Ford does know
Sloan. He probably meant he could step right in and start in the D-league for
two years.Heck Kobe, Lebron, Jordan, would be in the D-League for two
years under Sloan.